US Senate faces pressure to restore funding to fire service grants

by AmericasFeatured News

National fire service organisations call for restoration of funding

National fire service organisations, including the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have come together to oppose proposed cuts to vital fire service grant programs.

These programs, known as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), are crucial for local fire departments to acquire necessary equipment, training, and staffing.

A joint statement has been released expressing their concern, which can be found here.

A lifeline for fire departments facing increasing costs and challenges

On July 27, the US Senate Appropriations Committee voted to cut these essential programs.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill proposes to reduce the funding for each program from $360 million in FY 2023 to $338 million in FY 2024.

This reduction of $22 million stands in contrast to the House version of the bill, which maintains funding at $360 million each for FY 2024.

The AFG and SAFER grant programs have provided much-needed support to fire and EMS departments nationwide.

They face rising costs, staffing shortages, and expanding responsibilities, including handling extreme heat, wildland fires, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These grants have been praised over the years as effective ways to assist local departments in meeting the needs of their communities.

Local fire departments annually submit applications totaling approximately $2 billion for the AFG program and between $1 and $2 billion for the SAFER grant program.

The joint letter stated: “Our organisations call upon Congress to restore funding to these programs. Local fire and EMS departments face an increasing number of risks from which they must protect the public.”

The letter further urged Congress to restore funding and asked the fire and emergency service community to contact their Senators and Representatives to protect these vital programs.

Critical moment for U.S. fire service funding

While the House version of the FY 2024 DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 4367) maintains the existing funding levels, the proposed cuts by the Senate could hinder the capacity of fire and EMS departments to respond effectively to emergencies.

The unified voice of national fire service organisations is a significant call to action to preserve these essential funding channels, marking a crucial moment for fire and EMS departments across the nation.

IFSJ Comment

The decision by the US Senate Appropriations Committee to propose cuts to the AFG and SAFER grant programs could have far-reaching implications for the ability of local fire and EMS departments to function effectively.

With growing challenges and risks, these grants are more crucial than ever.

We encourage our readers to stay engaged and informed on this vital issue.

Federal funding granted to NVFC for boosting volunteer fire services

by AmericasFeatured News

In a crucial advancement for volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has been granted a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This marks the third time NVFC has received this grant since 2014.

NVFC’s tireless efforts to address the critical need for adequate staffing within the volunteer fire service have led to this recent accomplishment. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), volunteers comprise 65% of firefighters nationwide, and 90% of fire departments rely on their efforts. Additionally, volunteer firefighters save communities an estimated $46.9 billion annually. Despite their importance, many departments grapple with maintaining sufficient volunteer numbers to meet the communities’ needs safely and effectively.

Recognizing these challenges, NVFC has utilized previous SAFER grants to successfully initiate several initiatives, including the ‘Make Me A Firefighter’ campaign. The campaign has developed materials and tools aiding departments in their recruitment endeavors, established a national database for prospective volunteers to locate local opportunities, and launched a nationwide public awareness drive about the necessity of volunteers.

This newly acquired $2.9 million grant, spread over four years, will further enhance the NVFC’s efforts to support fire departments’ staffing and recruitment. Three strategies are at the core of this grant’s usage.

Resource development will see NVFC creating research-based materials to support recruitment and retention and expand the ‘Make Me A Firefighter’ campaign. Planned resources include a mentorship program guide, leadership handbook, and an onboarding kit.

Training initiatives will continue to offer existing programs on recruitment and retention and develop new courses. Two recruitment and retention conferences are also scheduled within the grant’s timeframe.

Outreach efforts will involve public campaigns to inspire volunteer participation and inform departments about available recruitment and retention tools and resources.

Expressing gratitude for the grant, NVFC chair Steve Hirsch said, “Recruitment and retention are top priorities for the NVFC. If a department does not have sufficient staffing, this impacts the safety of both the firefighters and the community members. It is critical that we work to address the key barriers to recruitment and retention and develop solutions to help departments thrive. We thank FEMA for providing this critical funding so we can continue our work to make sure our fire departments are best prepared and equipped to protect our communities.”

The SAFER grants, part of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, aim to bolster local fire departments’ abilities to comply with the NFPA’s staffing, response, and operational standards.

US Senate reauthorises Fire Grants and Safety Act

by Featured News

The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has repassed the Fire Grants and Safety Act. The act reauthorises federal grant programs designed to bolster fire fighter staffing and purchase vital equipment.

The grants include the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).  

The AFG and SAFER grants are each funded at US $360 million annually. More than 2,700 AFG grants – totaling $567.6 million – for apparatus, PPE, and training were awarded to IAFF affiliates between 2018 and 2021. More than 450 SAFER grants adding up to more than $1 billion were awarded to affiliates for hiring and maintaining existing personnel. The legislation also would ensure the United States Fire Administration (USFA) is maintained.

Protecting people across the nation

The bill’s chief sponsor, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), said that Congress needs to swiftly come together and vote in favour of the Fire Grants and Safety Act: “Fire stations rely on federal grant programs for the resources and tools they need to protect people across the nation

“Congress must pass this legislation to extend these programs that ensure brave and courageous fire fighters can safely protect communities from fires and other emergencies.” 

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President, Edward Kelly, said that the reauthorisation of the grant programs sends a strong message that staffing, safety, and the wellbeing of firefighters remains a high priority for Congress.

“Passing this legislation helps make our dangerous job safer and is an important step in protecting communities across the United States,” said Kelly.

The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

Fire Protection Research Foundation projects receive funding

by Featured News

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has received grant funding for four projects. This includes two funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FEMA AFG) and two funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In addition, FPRF will serve in an advisory service capacity for five additional grants, including three with FEMA AFG, one with the US Department of Transportation (DOT), and one through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The projects

Firefighting Foams: Implementation of Fire Service Roadmap – (FEMA AFG grant)

This two-year grant will build on the firefighting foams fire service roadmap developed by a prior AFG FOA FY19 project to establish comprehensive best practices, firefighting tactics, and recommendations for the fire service when using fluorine free foams (FFF). FPRF, in partnership with Jensen Hughes, DFW Dynamics, LASTFIRE and DSRAE, LLC., will provide updated information addressing the evolution of FFF technology and implementation considerations by summarizing the learnings from FFF transitional case studies, evaluating various real-world Class-B fire scenarios, and providing guidance required for training and updating standards. A key component of the project will be the engagement with fire service stakeholders in a planned project workshop.

Assessment of Electric Vehicle Firefighting Techniques, Technologies, and the Impact of Stranded Energy – (FEMA AFG grant)

This two-year research and development (R&D) grant works to improve safety for firefighters when responding to electric vehicle (EV) fires and incidents, establishing the effectiveness of current EV firefighting techniques; evaluating new technologies and practices; and determining the impact of suppression activities and risks associated with stranded energy and re-ignition.

The FPRF is partnering with the Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG), Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC (FRA), the Energy Security Agency (ESA) and NFPA to provide a performance evaluation of suppression tactics for EVs. This work will develop qualitative and quantitative test data to inform best practices, develop testing methodologies, and video training modules, which will be included in future releases of NFPA’s Alternative Fuel Vehicles Safety Training and inform industry standards.

Current State of Cigarette Fires in the US: Data Analysis and Workshop – (NIST grant)

FPRF and NFPA will work on this one-year research grant to gather relevant information and data on cigarette fires. Between 2015 and 2019, smoking materials continued to serve as the leading cause of US home fire deaths. The deliverables from this effort will be used as the basis for initiatives that further reduce the number of cigarette fires and the toll they incur on people and property.

WUI-NITY 4: An industry-ready WUI fire evacuation model project  – (NIST grant)

WUI-NITY is an integrated software platform that works to enhance life safety in case of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires by simulating WUI evacuation scenarios, linking three domains: fire spread, pedestrian decisions and movement, and traffic movement. The WUI-NITY tool has been developed over several previously NIST-funded projects facilitated by the FPRF in partnership with a research team from Lund University, Imperial College London, NRC Canada, Movement Strategies/GHD, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

This fourth phase focuses on producing a tested, calibrated, and configurable model that can be used by stakeholders to assess wildfire evacuation performance in real-world situations. The overall goal of the project is to move this tool from research to practice, and to provide support for the use and integration of this (and equivalent) tools. 

Additional projects

A three-year FEMA AFG R&D grant led by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) titled, “Firefighting fire toxicity: improving safety and health via novel optical sensors.”

A three-year FEMA AFG R&D grant led by Rutgers University titled, “Engaging volunteer firefighters in cancer prevention.”

A two-year FEMA AFG FP&S grant led by Skidmore College titled, –“Firefighter Research and Education for Safety and Health (FRESH).”

A two-year DOT grant led by Texas A&M University titled, “Determination of potential impact radius of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines.”

A NASA funded grant led by ImageCat titled, “Community Wildfire Vulnerability Index for Risk Assessment and Response Planning using Earth Observation (EO) Data and Modeling.”

Australia’s New England Rural Fire District receives $6 million boost

by Featured News

The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) New England Zone has announced it will receive a new $4.9 million Fire Control Centre as well as four fire tankers valued at over $1.1 million.

NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers joined Councillor Paul Gaddes from Armidale Regional Council and NSW RFS New England District Manager Superintendent Paul Metcalfe to officially open the new facility and to hand the keys to the new tankers to four Brigades from across the region.

The new tankers include: Dumaresq (Category 1), Herbert Park (Category 7), Kentucky (Category 7), and Nowendoc (Category 1).

Commissioner Rogers said the new facility is a one-stop-shop and central hub for NSW RFS operations in the region: “This fantastic new $4.9 million facility is fit for purpose, providing our volunteer members, District and Area Command staff with the space and technology to do the important work they do,

“I am so pleased too, to be handing over the keys to four new fire tankers which will likely be put straight to use, responding to incidents as well as assisting with the flood response.”

Councillor Paul Gaddes said that whilst their previous vehicles have served them well, I am confident these four new state-of-the-art tankers will prove to be invaluable assets to these Brigades: “Our RFS members do so much for our communities and today is a great opportunity to say thank you, as we celebrate the opening of this wonderful new facility.”

Superintendent Metcalfe added that the new Fire Control Centre includes multiple training and meeting rooms, kitchen and office facilities, along with generous space for managing operations: “The location of this facility here within the Armidale Regional Airport provides ease of access to our Aviation, Logistics and Remote Firefighting buildings which are now right next door.

“This new centre and vehicles will ensure members of the New England District have access to the latest technology and equipment to support emergency events, increase the level of safety and keep the community informed.”

Belmar Volunteer Fire Department to receive Assistance to Firefighters Grant

by Featured News

The Belmar Fire Department is to receive a federal grant totalling $223,571.42 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

The AFG grant program supports fire departments with funds to help purchase needed equipment that would improve an applicant’s ability to protect the health and safety of the public. The grant will be administered by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Belmar Fire Department is an all-volunteer department which delivers primary fire protection and rescue services to Belmar’s 7,600 permanent residents—a figure that can grow to over 50,000 seasonal residents over the summer.  It has approximately 40 members who make up the Union Fire Company, Goodwill Hose Company and Volunteer Hook and Ladder Fire Company.

Congressman Chris Smith announced the award and said: “The volunteer firefighters of the Belmar Fire Department put their lives on the line every day to protect people and property in the borough and  in neighbouring towns when fires and other emergencies arise.”

Smith continued: “The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to be purchased with these funds is absolutely critical to enabling firefighters to enter burning buildings and still be able to breathe.  With the federal support, the town can properly protect its fire crews and continue providing quick and effective emergency response services to those in harm’s way.”

He concluded:  “A special thanks to Mayor Mark Walsifer and Fire Marshal Ryan Dullea for their great work on the application, including a risk assessment, to show the need to prioritize this life-sustaining SCBA.”

New Jersey earmarks Covid fund for fire departments

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured News

New Jersey is set to use $10 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help provide fire departments with more safety and sanitary equipment, officials announced Monday.

The state’s Firefighter Grant Program will allow local and regional fire departments to apply for the taxpayer money from the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed to provide stimulus funds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know how hard the pandemic was on our firefighting community,” said Governor Phil Murphy during an event championing the program at the Hackensack Fire Department. “We know the stress that all of you are under each and every day, not knowing what you may up against while on call … while simultaneously worried about the health of your families.”

Murphy said the money would be used not just for helmets, gloves, and boots but for chemical-free protective clothing and cleaning equipment and products to help prevent the spread of illness, noting that firefighters faced many health and safety risks during the pandemic.

“Firefighters have been working on the front lines with our health care and law enforcement professionals throughout this pandemic, and Governor Murphy and I are grateful for the heroic work they do every day to save lives,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

“The Firefighter Grant Program is going to help provide them with the essential resources they need to ensure their safety and well-being so they can continue to do their jobs.” 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus said “We’re now clawing back even more federal dollars to support our local fire departments and first responders, particularly for our smaller ones where resources are even more stretched. This critical investment will not only keep our communities, families, and brave first responders safe, but it will also help lower our property taxes and make life more affordable for Jersey families.

“The new American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant program claws critical federal resources back from Washington for Jersey fire departments – to protect our communities, our families, firefighters, and EMTs. We must always get the backs of our first responders.”

Kyle Hughes, a Paterson firefighter and president of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 2 union, welcomed the funds as firefighters across the state deal have dealt with the pandemic in addition to fires, floods, chemical spills, and downed wires the last two years.

“Despite this even greater risk, our members never wavered to their duties,” Hughes said. “They put others before themselves time and time again. … Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Ontario Government increases funds for forest firefighting

by Active

The Ontario government has taken additional steps to protect people and property during the wildland fire season, including an increase in base funding for emergency forest firefighting by $30.2 million, and ensuring safety measures are in place to protect Ontario’s highly trained fire rangers from COVID-19.

In mid-May, Ontario lifted Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) designation that was put in place last month across Ontario’s fire region. The province will continue to assess forest fire hazard conditions and an RFZ designation may be reinstated in higher risk areas if conditions deteriorate. These restrictions are put in place in order to reduce the number of preventable human-caused fires and lower the risk of wildfires impacting the public.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 fire rangers will be required to follow the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, such as physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and daily self-assessments by staff.

“This is an extraordinary period. As we put measures in place to protect our staff and the public from the pandemic, we have been taking additional steps to prepare for the wildland fire season,” said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “Nothing is more important than protecting the safety of people and communities across the province. Although we want people to enjoy themselves, lifting the Restricted Fire Zone designation does not mean we can let our guard down when it comes to preventing human-caused forest fires.”

The province has also implemented a more aggressive approach to fighting wildland fires this season with a focus on detecting fires early, combating them with full force and keeping them as small as possible.

“Despite the challenges of these unprecedented times, Ontario’s emergency management personnel have been proactively working with partners to prepare for potential evacuations due to the wildland fire season,” said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General.  “Public safety remains our top priority and our Provincial Emergency Operations Centre will continue to monitor forest fire situations with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and be ready to coordinate a response if called upon for evacuation assistance.”